With so many different options to choose from, selecting a tarantula enclosure may seem an overwhelming task. To make life easier for you, here we review some of the best tarantula enclosures currently available in the market.
What to Look for in a Tarantula Enclosure
Once you bring home a tarantula, the search for the right home must start immediately. Terrariums not only make a beautiful home for tarantulas, but they are also ideal for people who stay in small city apartments. And much like tarantulas, terrariums are low-maintenance and beautify whatever corner they go into.
We checked out some twenty different tarantula enclosures and it’s a good idea to have a list of criteria against which you can check. In this post, I discuss the top three criteria that are featured on our list.
Checking Height Is Important If You Have an Arboreal Tarantula
Height is a crucial consideration, and the height of the enclosure will vary depending on whether you have an arboreal or terrestrial species. Arboreal tarantulas enjoy climbing, but terrestrial or burrowing species enjoy staying on the ground. While buying an enclosure for an arboreal tarantula, make sure the height of the enclosure is more than its length, as shown below.
If you are looking for a home for a terrestrial tarantula, the length of the enclosure is more critical than its height. In general, the rule is that for burrowing or terrestrial cages, the length of the cage should be three times the leg span, and the width of the cage should be double the leg span.
People also assume that the bigger the enclosure, the better it is. However, this is not true as tarantulas are not social creatures but would rather stay in one specific area of their enclosure. Further, a big cage makes it difficult for tarantulas to hunt for prey.
Always Look for Added Features
When choosing and setting up your tarantula enclosure, checking for added features is essential. Arboreal tarantulas enjoy climbing, so their enclosure must have added features that facilitate climbing. Moreover, most tarantulas make webs so adding features such as branches and twigs is always a good idea.
In the case of burrowing or terrestrial tarantulas, make sure to add vermiculite or a mixture of vermiculite and peat or potting soil to the bottom of the cage. This mixture layer should be at least four inches deep to facilitate burrowing.
Similarly, all tarantulas create a designated hiding or resting spot. So look for features, such as a cork bark or a hollow log, that can serve as your tarantulas’ resting place.
Arboreal Tarantulas Need Enclosures with a Lid
Ensuring safety is essential, especially if you own an arboreal tarantula. Arboreal tarantulas are skilled escape artists and will jump out and leave the safety provided by your home if you do not pay proper attention. So tarantula enclosures designed for arboreal tarantula must necessarily have a lid or cover. The cover must facilitate appropriate ventilation.
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12 Best Tarantula Terrariums On The Market Today
From the over twenty tarantula enclosures, we checked out, here is a review of the tarantula enclosures we liked best.
This limited-edition, hand-painted, terrarium, conceptualized and designed by European herpetologists, is one of the best options if you have a terrestrial tarantula, both in terms of quality and value for money.
The front opening doors and completely removable top provide easy access to the enclosure for cleaning and decoration purposes. The lid features a steel mesh cover for added security. The screen cover features five inlets for attaching various accessories, and the bottom plate can accommodate a thick layer of the substrate.
- The hand-painted background provides an extra climbing dimension
- Front doors provide easy accessibility
- Removable top allows UVB and infrared penetration and creates a proper ventilation system
- The enclosure is safe with locks
- The manufacturing company makes accessories that will go well with the cage
- Size might be an issue
This glass terrarium will look good in any corner of your home. The front window ventilation mechanism makes it an ideal choice for all kinds of tarantulas.
The escape-proof dual locks make it exceptionally safe for arboreal tarantulas, and the waterproof bottom adds to the cage’s life. The front doors are easy to open and provide easy accessibility to the cage.
- Escape-proof dual locks will ensure your tarantula’s safety
- Waterproof bottom adds to the life of the enclosure
- Adequately ventilated and suitable for all kinds of tarantulas
- The quality of the material used could be better
- The background is made of styrofoam
This terrarium comes with a back panel, which gives it a natural look. The fully surrounded glass enclosure provides maximum viewability for the pet. The enclosure features a secure lock and top lid for safety and two side-opening panels that provide easy access to the terrarium.
The top lid also features a stainless steel mesh cover to further enhances your pet’s safety. If you live in a place that experiences harsh winters, there are multiple connection points for adding heating rocks, etc.
- The safety features in this enclosure do an excellent job of protecting your tarantula
- The lid features a stainless steel mesh cover, which is a welcome addition
- Comes with multiple attaching points for adding heating stones and other things
- Side opening panels provide easy access to the enclosure
- Excellent ventilation system to keep your pet happy
- Although the lock is sturdy, it is mainly plastic, which can be a problem in the long run
This terrarium features a raised bottom, which is ideal for fitting in a substrate heater. The base is also waterproof. Its foam background gives it a natural look, making it a suitable habitat for most tarantulas and small reptiles.
The top screen, other than serving as a critical safety feature, also allows UVB and infrared penetration, and the front-door design provides easy accessibility to the enclosure. The enclosure comes with multiple attaching points for attaching various accessories.
- This terrarium’s raised bottom is ideal for attaching to a substrate heater
- The waterproof base adds to the life of the terrarium
- The foam background gives the cage a natural look
- The front-door design provides easy accessibility and the top screen allows UVB and infrared penetration
- Easy terrarium setup
- Some customers complained that many of the pieces arrived defected
This Habitat Kit includes everything you will need to create a sturdy home for your tarantula. The highlight of this tarantula enclosure is its fluorescent lighting system, which keeps the tank well-lit and cold, and the top ventilation system which permits UVB rays into the terrarium.
The kit includes a full-glass terrarium, a full metal screen for ventilation, natural-looking rock terrarium background, and a compact top lighting system. The package also includes an instruction manual to help you set up the enclosure and all items needed for decorating the terrarium.
- The highlight of this terrarium is its fluorescent lighting
- System and UVB-permitting top ventilation system
- All necessary items needed to decorate the terrarium are included
- Easy setup
- All items included in the kit are of high-quality
- Some buyers complained that some of the items were either missing or arrived broken
This kit is an ideal space for arboreal animals. It includes the terrarium, along with the background decor piece, feeding dish, and substrate. The terrarium comes equipped with a mini halogen lighting system, which creates a healthy atmosphere within the terrarium.
The thing that impresses most about this cage is that the front door features not only a locking latch but also a locking pin for extra safety. Also, other than the front door, the top of the terrarium also opens to provide access to the terrarium.
- The enclosure features a locking latch and locking pin for extra safety
- Comes equipped with a mini halogen lighting system which creates the perfect atmosphere inside the terrarium
- The kit also includes the background decor piece, feeding dish, and substrate
- Double access through the front and top makes maintaining the enclosure easy
- The top door is hinged and lacks in terms of stability
This cage is perhaps the best tarantula enclosure for arboreal tarantulas. It features a dam at the bottom that holds the substrate in its place and a lip on the top where your tarantula can build its web. Since the top is where the tarantula will make its web, the enclosure provides only front-door access to ensure the safety of the web.
If you wish to use this enclosure for a terrestrial tarantula, invert the enclosure, and you will get top door access. Further, the low ceiling height will ensure the safety of your pet. Every Adult Tarantula Cage comes with two acrylic hinges and lockable hasps.
- Unique design: if you keep the enclosure straight, it creates the ideal setting for arboreal tarantulas. If you invert it, it becomes the perfect home of your terrestrial tarantula
- Features lockable clasp for security
- Features a dam to hold the substrate in place and a top lip where your tarantula can build its web
- Pricey compared to other arboreal terrariums
This is an excellent round-up kit for a terrestrial tarantula. The package includes an acrylic tarantula terrarium complete with two hinges and two hasps to ensure the safety of your pet, coco-fiber substrate, moss, silk plants, a slab of cork bark, and a rock water bowl.
The cage itself features small ventilation holes on the sides. These holes do not only aid in ventilation but also help regulate substrate moisture. Most importantly, the company offers a 60-day warranty on this product.
- The package includes everything a tarantula owner needs to create a happy home for their tarantula
- Moss and silk plants do an excellent job of creating a natural habitat, and the cork bark serves as a nice resting place
- Small holes on the side help retain substrate moisture and create proper ventilation
- 60-day warranty
- Pricey compared to other terrariums
Other than the glass terrarium, this kit also includes soil, cave, and naturalistic flora, all of which come together to create the perfect home for your tarantula. There is also an insect guide that you can use to learn how to take better care of your tarantula. The top of the terrarium features a stainless steel rust-proof mesh, which is an important safety feature.
One of the most significant issues with this cage is that it does not feature any front doors. Also, the size may be an issue if you own one of the bigger tarantula species.
- The stainless steel rust-proof mesh is an important safety feature
- The kit includes an insect and tarantula guide
- The kit contains all the necessary items so you won’t have to shop for anything extra
- It does not feature any front doors, which compromises accessibility
- This cage is more suitable for smaller species of tarantulas
This simple tarantula enclosure is quite easy to put together — you will be able to do it on your own and within minutes too. It comes with a working thermometer that has its own batteries and that will help you maintain the right temperature within the enclosure.
It is also quite sturdy and the acrylic material is a clever alternative. The feeder hole on top is a cool idea especially if you want to use it for a frantic tarantula that usually tries to escape when you open the lid.
- Very easy setup
- The packaging includes a thermometer, which will help you maintain the right temperature inside the enclosure
- It is beautiful to look at and will go well in any corner of your home
- Though it is simple to put together, the lack of an instruction manual can make things difficult for some people
- The paperback on acrylic pieces takes forever to come out
This ReptiZoo Mini Reptile Glass Terrarium comes equipped with a top metal screen, which not only creates proper ventilation but also serves as an attaching point for various heating sources.
Moreover, the cover of the terrarium features custom-designed feeding ports, which make feeding your tarantula comfortable while adding to the cage’s aesthetic appeal.
This tarantula enclosure is one of the few terrariums with a lift-and-pull sliding door, which is very comfortable to operate. Further, this enclosure comes fully installed so you won’t have to worry too much about the setup.
- The top features feeding ports which make feeding easy and also add to the enclosure’s aesthetic appeal
- The top metal screen is an important safety feature that doubles as an attaching point for various things
- The lift and pull door is very comfortable to operate
- It comes fully installed, and thus, installation is not a problem
- You need to be extra careful while using the lift and pull door otherwise there is some risk of your spider trying to escape
This glass terrarium is unique in that it provides a 360-degree of the terrarium landscape. The full-screen top comes equipped with feeding holes, which also serve as the entry point for light and UVB.
This tarantula enclosure features a PVC tray at the bottom, which does an excellent job of holding the substrate and moisture. Lastly, the terrarium is very simple to set up.
- This terrarium offers a 360-degree view of the entire terrarium
- The top section has feeding holes that double as serving points for light and UVB
- There is a PVC tray at the bottom, which holds substrate and moisture well
- The terrarium is simple to put together
- This terrarium lacks in terms of a proper ventilation mechanism.
Conclusion – Best Tarantula Terrariums
A solid enclosure is a perfect investment for your tarantula. It will last for years, especially considering the longevity of these critters. I hope this guide helped you choose the best tarantula terrarium for your spider pet to thrive in the years to come.
Contents
- What to Look for in a Tarantula Enclosure
- 12 Best Tarantula Terrariums On The Market Today
- 1. Exo Terra Outback Terrarium
- 2. Exo Terra Glass Terrarium Kit
- 3. Exo Terra Glass Terrarium
- 4. REPTI ZOO 34 Gallon Large Reptile Glass Terrarium
- 5. Exo Terra Rainforest Habitat Kit
- 6. Zilla Tropical Reptile Vertical Starter Kit
- 7. Arboreal Cage by Jamie’s Tarantulas
- 8. Complete Terrestrial Kit by Jamie’s Tarantulas
- 9. Zoo Med Creatures Creature Habitat Kit
- 10. Petforu Acrylic Tank with Temperature Hygrometer
- 11. REPTIZOO Mini Reptile Glass Terrarium
- 12. REPTI ZOO 10 Gallon Terrarium
- Conclusion – Best Tarantula Terrariums
